The Delta independent., 1887-04-26
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER
From our regular correspondent,

From our regular correspondent,
As the time draws near for the
Washington national drill. public at
tention is concentrating upon the novel
event, and preparations 90 briskly for
ward. The ruling uf the Interstate
Commissioners allowing reduced rates
of travel to be given to people attend
ing the drill, will tend greatly to i'll.
crease the crowd of visitors. The leal
ing railroad lines OF the country tell
! graph to headquarters that they al.
expecting and making arrangements
to carry immense numbers of excur-
| sionists to the spectacle, and that the
accommodations of the capital as re-
CARDS board and shelter will probably
be taxed to their utmost capacity.
They are unnecessarily alarmed OH this
! | 0int however. Washington is IA city
of hotels and boarding houses. and its
adaptability to crowds has never fully
| been tested. 1t was not uncomfort-
| ably full at the time of the Cleveland
that there were then two hundred
thousand strangers within her gates.
Still the drill committee, which seems
determined to leave nothing undonc
that can add to the pleasure and COM
fort Of the occasion, will keep list of
hotels, boarding and lodging houses,
where rooms and beds with and with
out meals can be had. ROOMS are re-
gistered ut prices ranging from 81 up
ward, and meals can be had from 25
cents upward. IT those wanting rooms
will address the
NATIONAL DRILL
committee, stating just what they
want as to rooms, beds and meals, and
what they are willing to pay, they will
be put in communication with persons
who can furnish such accommodations.
About the 2lst of May an official will
be at each of the railway stations in
this city to give the same information
to people arriving. 80 as to enable
them to repair directly to such quar-
ters as are most convenient to the sta
tion where they arrive. There is every
indication that the drill will be sue
cessful in every particular. The east.
west. north and south, and every other
section Of the Union will be represent
ed in the contest, and an abundance of
funds for the expenses of the whole
affair were long ago subscribed and
paid into the treasury. $26.50O will he
distributed in cash prizes, besides
stands of colors, gold, silver and bronze
medals, special medals and plate tre-
phies. South of the White House, and
between it and the Washington Monu-
ment is beautiful level ellipse one
half mile in circumference. here the
daily contests will he held to show the
proficiency Of the infantry, cavalry, ar
tillery and zuaye tactics. Each even-
ing there will be grand dress parade
and on
GOyERNoR's nAv "
the great parade will take place. when
it is expected about twenty-five chief
executives of states, together with the
president, will review the procession.
Grand stands for spectators will be
erected around the drill grounds, and
the camp is to be on that broad ex-
panse Of green lying around the WASH
ington monument. The drill will COM
mence OH the 23rd of May and continue
nine days, closing on the SOth. Deco
ration Day. with grand combination
parade through the streets Of the city
1t will be the largest gathering of cit;-
zen soldiery, and the finest display OF
their excellence in the manual of arms
and military maneuvres that has eveI
been seen in this country. State anC
other local drills have been held al
different places, many Of them meeting
with signal success. no national drill
has ever before been attempted. anC
one could not be carried out else ewhert
than here. Military displays have al
ways been popular. "the pomp and cir
cumstance of war" always attracts tn.
multitude. The national capital viii
welcome the thousands of visitors wht
flock to the coming encampment, in al
the beauty of her best attire, her new
spring suit of fresh. bright green
They have no idea how charming
Washington is ut her best. and they
will he surprised and delighted with
the broad asphalt avenues lined will
shade trees. forming miles of greer
vistas. and with the statues and fount
aims aud parks and flowers that they
will see at every turn.